4. Ugly Sweaters
Dezel x Rose
Tales of Zestiria


The sweater Dezel was holding was probably the ugliest thing he had ever laid his hands upon. He could not even see it, but he knew it was plainly terrible, just for the touch of the fabric. What gave it completely away was Edna's manic laughter. If she had kept her mouth shut, he'd have probably wore it with no complains, but she was a terrible liar after all. He felt embarassment crawl up across his face, even if he couldn't see the gift he had just taken out of the wrapping.

"Shepherd, may I ask you something?" The wind seraph decided to do something before it was too late. Dezel ignored Edna's laughter and walked towards Sorey, who turned around with curiosity. "I know you're an honest person… describe this sweater, please."

"Oh, it's the one Rose bought you?" Sorey's expression wavered. Dezel already knew the answer, but waited patiently for the Shepherd's words. "Uh… I knew she was getting one for each one of us, but I think you've gotten the worst."

"The one she gave me is actually cool, I don't know why she did this to you…" Mikleo sounded in distraught. Just what kind of monstrous design did the sweater have?! The wool was stingy and it didn't feel like it was made of top quality thread.

"First of all, it's half fluorescent green, half bright red."

"On the back and on the front?!" Dezel asked, concerned.

"No, more like the top and the bottom… it's like someone ran out of the first ball of yarn and decided to continue with a different color."

"Oh my god, what's with that horrible rat-drawing in the middle?" Zaveid's voice asked, he had just arrived at their room on the inn after going out for a walk with Lailah.

"I think it's supposed to be a crow." The fire seraph said, covering her mouth with worry.

"Rose must really hate you, Dezel. Why would she buy you something like this?" Edna said with a large smirk, laughing under her breath as she inspected the horrible details on the fists and neck.

"Agh, I'm done with this! I'll dump this thing and I'm gonna tell her it's horrible!" He said, pestered. Rose would be back in around five minutes, since she had gone to buy more supplies for their trip, but he'll catch her on her way and confront her face-to-face, without everyone eyes on them. His friends tried to stop him, insisting he'd hurt her feelings, but he didn't give a single fuck about her emotions at the moment. Why would she even think it was a good idea to gift him something like that?

"Oh, hi!" Rose greeted him just as she turned around the corner with three bags on her hands "Mind helping me with th—?"

"We need to talk."

"Oh, you've already opened your gift!" She exclaimed, noticing he was carrying it beneath his arm. "I know it's not the best, but I actually knit that one myself, isn't that great?!"

"W-what?!"

"Yeah! I wanted to practice knitting, I've not done it since I was a child. So, I took the opportunity with the sweaters. I decided to practice with yours because… well, you and I are quite closer than the others, and I've known you for a longer time, of all of them I'm confident enough about what to give you as a present" Dezel twitched, Rose obviously had no idea of anything she was talking about. "I made one for myself, but I'm half-way through. Let's make sure to wear them on our New Year's Eve dinner, ok?"

He was usually honest, even mean if necessary. It didn't matter if it was Rose, who was the usual object of his critiques. She was one of the few beings he wished to protect more than anything in this word, but that didn't mean she wasn't dumb from time to time and he never wavered to tell her directly to her face. It didn't matter if it was the Sheppherd or a higher Seraphim, he usually spoke his mind and didn't go around telling lies to make others feel better. Yet, that evening, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew Rose was terrible with hand-made things and her do-it-yourself projects usually ended in disaster, but she always tried her best in making things work. Even if she practiced, she'd usually not give up on it until she found something better or far more interesting to do. She never finished her projects, though. The fact that he was holding one of her completed 'masterpieces' was more than enough to make Dezel keep his mouth shut.

He sighed and grabbed the sweater in front of his face, as if he was trying to look at it before deciding something he'd regret for months. The wind seraph removed his tophat and placed it atop of Rose's head and took his leather jacket off, then he slipped inside the sweater. It was itching badly and the wool made it unbearably warm. He knew he looked ridiculous, even if Rose seemed oblivious of how bad her creation was. Dezel scratched the back of his head and retrieved his hat.

"Just… make sure to be wearing yours next time, ok?"


A/N: Winter is that time of the year you can wear ugly sweaters all day and no one will tell you a thing. Also, I love Dezel so much I can't bring myself to follow the canon. This is sort of an altern universe in which you can have both Zaveid and Dezel with you at the same time. Because I refuse to believe it and I also like Zaveid a lot. Please, let me keep them, I'll treat them right ToT.